NAWBO - Member Spotlighthttps://www.nawbo.org/recurring-feature/member-spotlight
enHow Julia Aquino-Serrano Is Using Her “Outside Voice” to Follow Her Passions https://www.nawbo.org/resources/nawbo-one/2018/july/how-julia-aquino-serrano-using-her-outside-voice-follow-her-passions
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<p><img alt="" class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__8333 img__view_mode__default attr__format__default attr__field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]__ attr__field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]__" src="https://www.nawbo.org/sites/nawbo/files/Julia-Aquino-190x190.jpg" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 15px; float: left;" typeof="foaf:Image" />A great Tony Robbins quote goes, “Passion is the genesis of genius.” Following her passions as a businesswoman is something that Julia Aquino-Serrano knows all about. A successful consulting business, a new book to help women achieve their goals and an exciting new coaching endeavor are all ways in which she is driving positive change for others.</p>
<p>About 10 years ago, Julia saw a great need for businesses seeking growth support and decided to launch her own consulting practice. Today, All Systems Grow supports businesses with up to $100 million in revenue to align their financial and cultural behavior with a strategic vision. She works closely with businesses to evaluate if employees are in the right roles and if a company’s values and strategies work together, among other things. Julia also recognizes that people are at the core of businesses, and therefore focuses on aligning a people-oriented mindset with strategic processes and financial strategies. “You’re shifting the mindset of the entire organization,” she explains. “You create change top-down, so it’s helping leaders shift their mindset along with those below the leadership to shift the way they behave or think or manage themselves.”</p>
<p>Over the course of her career as a consultant, Julia has acquired a wealth of knowledge about effective strategies for growth and is excited to share those insights in a new book titled <em>SheStrategy</em>. Written for a female audience, she hopes to help all women overcome personal obstacles. “It’s to find awareness of the beliefs and thoughts that are stopping you and develop strategies for our life and business. The point of the book is that business is life and life is business,” she says.</p>
<p>Julia is also preparing to officially launch SheDefined, a new coaching business that offers workshops, retreats and coaching sessions to women across the nation. In fact, she recently sponsored the Women Empower Expo in Washington D.C., where she coached 70 women on ways to overcome obstacles and achieve their personal goals.</p>
<p>As a past president and member of NAWBO-Fort Lauderdale for the last nine years, Julia recognizes the immense support she gets from her NAWBO sisters in many different ways. “NAWBO’s connections are helpful everywhere,” she says. “I used a NAWBO attorney for my divorce. I used a corporate partner for my banking. It’s so much more once you’re involved because of the relationships you build. It’s helped in business because you have women’s undying support, the ability to serve on the board to grow yourself and your knowledge and experience. It’s really a place of opportunity for women.”</p>
<p>NAWBO is also a place where Julia feels her voice can be heard. In fact, she’s started a side business making T-shirts with inspirational quotes, some which she uses as an active member of NAWBO. “The very first shirt I made was a quote of a statement I made in my acceptance speech as president of NAWBO: ‘To change the world, you have to use your outside voice,’” she says. “When I get down to the nitty gritty of what I do, I help women find and use their authentic, soul-resonating voice. We spend our lives being and doing what others want. We, at some level, give up our voice because we think we’re doing it to serve others. That’s not the case. In everything I do with women, it’s about helping them find their truth. Speaking your truth is the only way you can live YOUR life versus living someone else’s life.”</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Beyond being a successful business owner, Julia also channels her energy to support causes that are close to her heart. After a recent school shooting near her hometown in Florida, Julia has dedicated herself to boosting education and communication among students, parents, and schools about safety at school. Her T-shirt company, Tees For Humanity, also contributes a portion of their profits to support victims of school shootings, cancer, youth empowerment, and more.</p>
<p>As a survivor of breast cancer, she also works closely with those newly diagnosed to help them approach their diagnosis from a perspective of knowledge instead of fear. “I’m doing great. I’m not a victim to it, but it’s still a big part of my path and what I do,” she says. “I feel passionate about it.”</p>
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</div></div></div>Tue, 10 Jul 2018 06:58:22 +0000dizon7494984 at https://www.nawbo.orgHow Mother-Daughter Team Susan and Carol Ann Michel Are Trailblazing the Finance Industryhttps://www.nawbo.org/resources/nawbo-one/2018/june/how-mother-daughter-team-susan-and-carol-ann-michel-are-trailblazing
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<p>While there’s still a need for more women business owners in the finance industry, this mother-daughter team is one fine example of how determination and leadership can bring great success on a road less traveled. NAWBO-Central New Jersey members Susan Michel, CEO, and Carol Ann Michel, Vice President of Retirement Plans Department, lead Glen Eagle, a financial advisory and broker-dealer where they serve clients across the nation and continue to grow to new heights. So how does this mother-daughter team make it happen? Find out in this Q&amp;A with Susan and Carol Ann.&nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;</p>
<h4><strong>TELL US ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS. WHEN DID YOU START, WHAT WAS IT LIKE IN THE BEGINNING AND HOW HAS IT GROWN TO WHAT IT IS TODAY?</strong></h4>
<p><img alt="Susan Michel" class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__8165 img__view_mode__default attr__format__default attr__field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]__Susan Michel attr__field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]__Susan" src="https://www.nawbo.org/sites/nawbo/files/susan-michel-190x190.jpg" style="float: right; margin-left: 15px; margin-right: 0px;" title="Susan Michel" typeof="foaf:Image" /><strong>Susan: </strong>“Prior to starting Glen Eagle, I was a school teacher in Germany, where my husband, John, was stationed as an officer in the U.S. Army. Shortly after moving back to the States with three children, I decided to take a financial course taught by a financial advisor. One Saturday after the course ended, the financial advisor called the house and I answered. After we had spoken for a few minutes, he asked to speak with my husband to discuss our investments, as the information ‘was a little technical.’ Needless to say, he did not get to speak to my husband and I set my career path in a new direction.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
<p>Ironically, that conversation led to me founding and growing my own financial advisory business. I began as a small-scale operation at the kitchen table. During my first 13 years as an advisor, I saw firsthand the challenges women face in the financial industry. I remember reading in 2002 that while there were almost 5,500 broker dealers in the United States, less than 1 percent were women owned and led. I decided it was time to help change this imbalance by starting Glen Eagle. Since that time, Glen Eagle has steadily grown. The firm has clients in 28 states and more than $450 million in client assets.</p>
<p>I built Glen Eagle to be centered around the value statement of ‘Faith, Family, Firm’ in that order. To break that simple maxim apart, Faith is the idea that we need to realize there is a larger meaning to life than just investments. Family is the idea that we are a family company and therefore think of our clients and employees as a part of that family and also that for many of our clients, investments are just a way to realize dreams and that often those dreams revolve around family. And finally, Firm. We intentionally list this last because we always want to remind ourselves and our clients that the Firm is last in order of priority, not first, as it is for many other financial service providers.”&nbsp;</p>
<p><img alt="Carol Anne Michel" class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__8166 img__view_mode__default attr__format__default attr__field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]__Carol Anne Michel attr__field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]__Carol" src="https://www.nawbo.org/sites/nawbo/files/carol-anne-michel-190x190.jpg" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 15px; float: left;" title="Carol Anne Michel" typeof="foaf:Image" /><strong>Carol Ann</strong>: “I joined Glen Eagle a year ago. Since that time, I have been able to be an active participant in the growth of the firm. My first assignment was to take our business retirement plans business to the next level. We have doubled this business over the last year and I feel like we have only scratched the surface of the opportunity to help business owners and their employees build their retirement savings, allowing them to reach the number one financial planning goal for most people. In particular, I have enjoyed enhancing our employee education programs to focus on the different ways that different employee groups, such as Millennials, Gen X and Baby Boomers prefer to learn.”</p>
<h4><strong>WHAT ARE&nbsp;THE CHALLENGES AND BENEFITS&nbsp;OF&nbsp;WORKING WITH YOUR MOTHER/DAUGHTER?</strong></h4>
<p><strong>Susan:</strong> “There are very few mother-daughter teams in finance. Glen Eagle is 100 percent woman-owned and it is great to have the next generation join. I built Glen Eagle from my kitchen table with the idea that I wanted to empower other women in the financial industry to be able to have both a family and a career. There is no one better to help in continuing this mission than Carol Ann, who grew up as the firm was growing.”&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>Carol Ann:</strong> “It has been an amazing opportunity to join Glen Eagle and help in bringing an already successful firm to the next level. My mom has a lot of experience and knowledge of the industry and I have the benefit of learning from her. I also feel that I bring new ideas and perspectives to my mom based on my experiences at Merrill Lynch and M&amp;T Bank along with what I learned from my MBA studies. I am also the only daughter with three brothers, so I have always had a special bond with my mom. Working together has only strengthened this relationship as we work together to reach a common goal of helping our clients and growing the firm. The biggest challenge has been transitioning to calling my mom ‘Susan’ at work.”<br />
&nbsp;</p>
<h4><strong>HOW HAS NAWBO&nbsp;IMPACTED YOUR WORK AS BUSINESS OWNERS?</strong></h4>
<p><strong>Susan:</strong> “NAWBO is a great network of women business owners. It is a place to share the dynamics of working and gives us the opportunity to share our experiences with each other. It has also led to Glen Eagle working with a lot of other women businesses that I have met at NAWBO over the years. It is an empowering support system, both personally and for the firm.”</p>
<p><strong>Carol Ann:</strong> “As a new member, I am just beginning to see NAWBO’s impact. I have already started meeting other business owners. The network is warm, welcoming and supportive and I look forward to becoming more involved.”<br />
&nbsp;</p>
<h4><strong>WHAT’S THE BEST PART OF WORKING TOGETHER?</strong></h4>
<p><strong>Susan: “</strong>Being able to share our love for math and finance while also helping others. Very few parents get to share the love of their work with their children. Knowing I built something that they want to continue growing is a dream for a parent. It also lets our clients know that Glen Eagle will be around for the long term.”&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>Carol Ann: </strong>“The best part is being able to help educate and empower our clients, especially other women. As the next generation, I am excited to continue growing my mom’s vision of Glen Eagle and helping us get to the next level.”</p>
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</div></div></div>Thu, 07 Jun 2018 19:30:44 +0000dizon7494888 at https://www.nawbo.orgMother and Daughter Janet and Elisabeth South Bond as Business Owners https://www.nawbo.org/resources/nawbo-one/2018/may/mother-and-daughter-janet-and-elisabeth-south-bond-business-owners
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<p><img alt="" class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__7870 img__view_mode__default attr__format__default attr__field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]__ attr__field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]__" src="https://www.nawbo.org/sites/nawbo/files/Janet-Elisabeth-BillieDragoo.jpg" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 15px; float: left;" typeof="foaf:Image" />As Mother’s Day quickly approaches, many of us are reflecting on ways that our mothers have impacted our lives. For some, it’s learning how to be a great mom. For others, it’s finding your voice as a strong woman. For Elisabeth South, it’s all of the above, plus, learning how to be a successful business owner, like her mother and fellow NAWBO member, Janet South.</p>
<p>Launching her painting business in 1992 as a way to support her son with college tuition, Janet quickly realized its potential and focused on growing the business to new heights. Today, DECO Coatings handles major industrial and commercial painting projects in Indianapolis and across the nation, including the Indianapolis Airport and major landmarks in the Indianapolis, Indiana, area. Janet was also recently honored with a 2018 N.A.C.E. award for innovations in filtration tanks to conserve water for the Chesapeake Bay Area in Suffolk, VA.&nbsp;</p>
<p>While Janet was spearheading major business growth, her daughter Elisabeth was there every step of the way—from going door-to-door to pass out flyers, to doing a TV commercial for the business when she was just 11 years old. That close involvement in growing a business was fuel for Elisabeth’s natural interest in entrepreneurship. So it’s no surprise that today she leads her own successful digital media and creative agency, SouthHaus Group (and DECO Coatings is one of her clients!). Elisabeth also uses her expertise as a speaker and advisor, and will be serving as the youngest advisor for the Indiana Women’s Conference this year.</p>
<p>After joining NAWBO in 2007 and serving on the NAWBO-Indianapolis Board of Directors and President’s Assembly, Janet encouraged Elisabeth to get involved with the organization, often taking her to meetings and sometimes asking her to attend in her place to represent DECO Coatings. Once Elisabeth launched her own business, she joined NAWBO herself. “My mom created a lot of entrepreneurial spirit within me,” Elisabeth says. “Taking me to these events, she would point out creative things you could do as a business owner.”</p>
<p>Janet notes that NAWBO has been a major source of support as she’s grown as a woman business owner (including serving as one of the original drafters of The 5 Star Healthy Chapter Program). “NAWBO has had a profound effect on my business and personal development. It truly is about business growth, business development and having conversations with women who are dealing with the same issues as you do,” Janet says. “We come from all kinds of backgrounds and represent all kinds of businesses. It’s so good to know you have a group of women you can have a conversation with and get some help to pull you to the next level. It’s a sisterhood.”</p>
<p>That sisterhood with NAWBO also carries through to Janet and Elisabeth’s relationship, as they’ve grown and supported each other side-by-side as business owners. “Working together is one of our biggest strengths. Our working relationship has been the glue that’s helped pull our personal relationship even closer,” says Janet. “We have a mutual respect for where we are at in our lives. Now, we not only love each other so intensely as mother and daughter, but we support each other through making mistakes. I would say we’re best friends. My daughter is my very best friend.”</p>
<p>Click the links to find out more about <a href="https://www.southhausgroup.com">SouthHaus Group</a> and <a href="https://www.decocoatings.com">DECO Coatings</a>.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<blockquote>
<h3><strong>Mother’s Day Q&amp;A:</strong></h3>
<h4>Q: Elisabeth, what are you most proud of about your mom?</h4>
<p>A: “My most proud moment was recently when we were in Phoenix. She was winning the 3<sup>rd</sup> place 2018 Contractors Award for Industrial Steel at the N.A.C.E. Annual Convention. I was proud to be there as her daughter and to help her grow the business there, too.”</p>
<h4>Q: Janet, was it important to you to be a role model to Elisabeth as a strong woman business owner?</h4>
<p>A: “It was something that I’ve had a deep need for, especially for my daughter. There’s a sisterhood that her mother brings her daughter into. Back in 2011, there was a NAWBO conference in San Diego and I flew Elisabeth out from New York to meet me there. Then we took a road trip going North and had quite an experience. After the trip, Elisabeth wrote me a letter and told me some personal things about how much she loved me and how special that time was for her, and I carry that letter with me. From the time she was born, I knew there were great things in store for her. I couldn’t have ever imagined that it would be this wonderful. I’m so grateful for this time I have with my daughter. Business is like sprinkles on the icing.”</p>
</blockquote>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
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</div></div></div>Thu, 10 May 2018 21:19:02 +0000dizon7494794 at https://www.nawbo.orgCreativity & Innovation Fly High With Little Red Birdhttps://www.nawbo.org/resources/nawbo-one/2018/february/creativity-innovation-fly-high-little-red-bird
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<p><img alt="" class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__6182 img__view_mode__default attr__format__default attr__field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]__ attr__field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]__" src="https://www.nawbo.org/sites/nawbo/files/Karen_Bennetts.jpg" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 15px; float: left;" typeof="foaf:Image" />True innovators are visionaries—they see a new way of doing things that others can’t possibly imagine—and they bring it to life. That’s true of Karen Bennetts as she leads her strategic brand development firm, Little Red Bird, to bring innovation to businesses across all industries.</p>
<p>With a background in marketing and advertising, Karen built a successful career working with top firms in places like New York City. While she was successful, something was missing. So she took her years of expertise and decided to launch Little Red Bird in 2008 as a new kind of firm that focuses on brand development “to help companies discover and express their brand voice.”</p>
<p>Based in North Carolina, Little Red Bird operates with a six-person team and is regularly supplemented with freelance experts who specialize in different facets of brand development. The business serves regional and national clients with an emphasis on non-profit organizations, which is a huge plus for Karen. “One of the reasons why I started Little Red Bird was to do what’s in the best interest of the clients, but also to choose the clients we most want to work with,” she says. “Much of the work we do is with non-profit organizations, and it’s work we believe in.”</p>
<p>Supporting and advocating for women business owners is also work Karen believes in, as she has been an active NAWBO member for the past eight years. As a past president of NAWBO’s Charlotte chapter, and chair elect of NAWBO National President’s Assembly Steering Committee (PASC), she has found immense support and motivation in the NAWBO sisterhood. “I went to one NAWBO meeting here locally, and before the end, I was signing up to be a member. I felt I was not only getting education from a business perspective, but also the support and camaraderie from women business owners,” she says.</p>
<p>As Chair Elect of the PASC, Karen has also been able to support and connect business owners across the nation. “I think what’s been the most rewarding part of that is being able to do for current chapter leaders what they did for me. There are always questions and situations where you’re looking for someone outside of your local group to help you navigate,” she says. “The other rewarding part of being on the committee has been to connect chapter leaders around the country and watch what happens when those introductions have been made. They find someone on the other side of the country who is going through exactly what they’re going through with their chapter. They bring that learning to the other chapter leaders around the country. That sense of camaraderie is a beautiful thing to watch.”</p>
<p>Looking ahead, Karen is excited to drive more positive change for women business owners on a global front with NAWBO. In her own business, she also plans to continue to focus on bringing innovative brand development to her clients, while emphasizing growth of the mid-sized segment of her client base.</p>
<blockquote>
<p><strong>What’s some of the best financial advice you’ve received for your business?</strong></p>
<p>“The best advice I got was from my dad. He was not a fan of going into a lot of debt and he owned his own business from the time I was 2. In starting Little Red Bird, I was careful not to go into a lot of debt. Considering that we started the business in 2008 before the crazy that was coming, that turned out to be the smartest decision I could have made. Be careful of where you invest and how much you take on.</p>
<p>Also, staff for the valleys and not the peaks. So staff for the valleys and supplement for the peaks, so you won’t have to waste a ton of time and money when the peaks go away. Little Red Bird has full-time staff for the valleys and we supplement for the peaks.”</p>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<h4><strong>Did You Know?</strong></h4>
<p>Little Red Bird got its name during a full exploration of the company’s naming process. “After seeing a cardinal land on a bare branch on a dull, overcast day, it stood out vibrantly and proudly, much like what we strive to do for our client’s brand voices!” Karen shares.</p>
</blockquote>
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</div></div></div>Thu, 08 Feb 2018 18:49:39 +0000dizon7494421 at https://www.nawbo.orgHow Kristina Bouweiri Keeps Reston Limousine in High Gear https://www.nawbo.org/resources/nawbo-one/2018/january/how-kristina-bouweiri-keeps-reston-limousine-high-gear
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</script><script type="text/javascript" src="//translate.google.com/translate_a/element.js?cb=googleTranslateElementInit"></script><p><img alt="" class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__6762 img__view_mode__default attr__format__default attr__field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]__ attr__field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]__" src="https://www.nawbo.org/sites/nawbo/files/Kristina-Bouweiri-190x190.jpg" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 15px; float: left;" typeof="foaf:Image" />Sometimes, despite careful planning, life often moves us to exactly where we are supposed to be. That was the case for Kristina Bouweiri, when a fateful phone call led her to become a successful business owner of a multi-million-dollar transportation business, Reston Limousine.</p>
<p>In 1991 during a career change, Kristina was working in a commission-based, cold-call sales job to make ends meet. During that time, she happened to call William Bouweiri, who offered her a job at his Virginia-based limousine business. The couple went on to marry and have children, while Kristina grew the business exponentially. Through strategic planning, wedding accommodations and government contracts, she successfully grew the business from $200,000 to $5 million in annual sales in the first 10 years. As time went on, Kristina eventually divorced her husband, bought him out of the business and led the company to even greater growth of $30 million in annual sales.</p>
<p>Today, Reston Limousine has 400 employees and provides limousines, cars, shuttles and busses in 13 markets. For Kristina, the key to achieving such a high level of success was staying informed and educated as a business owner. To do that, she restructured her business with a COO to manage the day-to-day operations, so she could focus on growth. “I started networking in 2001 and that is what has grown the business. By consistently networking, volunteering and helping other organizations grow, I’ve been able to place myself in a great position,” she says. “I’m growing my circle of influence.”</p>
<p><img alt="" class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__6770 img__view_mode__default attr__format__default attr__field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]__ attr__field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]__" src="https://www.nawbo.org/sites/nawbo/files/Sterling-Women-luncheon.jpg" style="float: right; margin-left: 15px; margin-right: 0px;" typeof="foaf:Image" />One way she does that is through her own monthly luncheon, Sterling Women, designed to support women business owners in the Virginia area. After 10 years of hosting the event, Kristina has hundreds of attendees every month and more than 14,000 women in her networking database.</p>
<p>She also looks to NAWBO for support and joined in 2002 after attending a powerful luncheon and CEO interview. “The moderator interviewed the CEO and I learned so much that I went to the events religiously. I loved that format, and in fact, they interviewed me later!” Kristina says.</p>
<p>As she continues to grow her business, Kristina recognizes the value in maintaining a strong network of business colleagues to give and receive support. “I think what NAWBO is doing for women in the community is really important. Women have unique challenges—we are parents, business owners, we are juggling a lot of balls,” she says. “Women need each other for support, especially as they’re growing their businesses. They need to be around like-minded women.”</p>
<p>As she looks ahead, Kristina plans to launch a driver training school for commercial drivers to improve the workforce in the field. She is also partnering with an affiliate network to provide cars to any city in the world. “Instead of treating other limousine companies as competitors, we make them strategic partners,” she explains. “There is always someone who is too busy, so we farm out work we can’t do to our partners. Now, other limo companies have become clients for us.”</p>
<blockquote>
<h4><strong>What’s your #1 piece of advice for other transportation businesses out there?</strong></h4>
<p>“That’s easy: Invest in busses. Because of Uber and other technology companies, busses are the future for transportation businesses. I have friends who didn’t do that, and they’ve gone out of business. Group transportation is pretty recession proof.”&nbsp;</p>
</blockquote>
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</div></div></div>Fri, 19 Jan 2018 08:10:14 +0000dizon7494307 at https://www.nawbo.orgJesika Young Is Moving Things in the Right Directionhttps://www.nawbo.org/resources/nawbo-one/2018/january/jesika-young-moving-things-right-direction
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</script><script type="text/javascript" src="//translate.google.com/translate_a/element.js?cb=googleTranslateElementInit"></script><p><img alt="" class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__6761 img__view_mode__default attr__format__default attr__field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]__ attr__field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]__" src="https://www.nawbo.org/sites/nawbo/files/Jesika-Young-190x190.jpg" style="margin-left: 15px; margin-right: 0px; float: right;" typeof="foaf:Image" />No list of “movers and shakers” is complete without a woman like Jesika Young. The Louisville native’s resume includes several impressive job titles, any one of which would satisfy even the most ambitious young professional. President of NAWBO-Kentucky, vice president of Commercial Banking at MainSource Bank, contributing writer for <em>Millennial Mom Magazine</em> and co-founder of the successful nonprofit Women Who Wine for a Cause—those are just the titles this dynamic NAWBO member holds right now. A study of Jesika’s full LinkedIn profile reveals a woman on an upward trajectory since her professional life began, and also one who is truly interested in making a difference in her community.</p>
<p>The latter point is a big reason why Jesika joined NAWBO back in 2012. “I wanted to immerse myself in the community and into an organization that connected women to the resources necessary for them to succeed,” she says. Jesika believes it is imperative for women to be part of an organization that elevates and advocates for them. Creating opportunities for women through education, advocacy and networking, “that is what NAWBO is all about.” The organization, she says, gives women a voice and a seat at the table.”</p>
<p>That’s not all it gives them. “I always felt I’ve received more than I’ve given to NAWBO,” she says, “be it through friendships or business earned.” Considering NAWBO’s mission (and its members), such results are to be expected. The most <em>unexpected</em> benefit, she says, has been the affinity partnerships. “The FCA US LLC benefit in particular has been tremendous,” she shares. “The money I saved on my Jeep<sub>®</sub> Grand Cherokee literally covered my membership into the organization.”</p>
<p>NAWBO’s affinity partnership with FCA, like all its partnerships, is by design, a conscious effort by the organization to provide women with more access to the resources they need for success. Reliable transportation is extremely important, Jesika says, especially for women. “We wear many hats and have many obligations, from drop-off duty with the kids to business meeting after business meeting. Without a reliable vehicle, work and everyday life would come to a halt.” With the benefit from FCA US, a reliable vehicle is just a little more within reach.</p>
<p>Raising awareness of NAWBO’s benefits, including those associated with affinity partnerships, is one of the many goals Jesika has as president of NAWBO-Kentucky. Elected in January 2017, she is already having a significant impact. In year one of her presidency, the Kentucky chapter held its first-ever statewide symposium, worked closely with its foundation to provide scholarships to NAWBO-related events, launched a luncheon leadership series, graduated a third class from its GROW program and onboarded a new executive director. Jesika ultimately hopes to help align Kentucky with the national average of women-owned businesses. Given what she has accomplished already, success in that regard seems inevitable. This “mover and shaker” is helping move things in the right direction.</p>
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</div></div></div>Fri, 19 Jan 2018 07:58:42 +0000dizon7494305 at https://www.nawbo.orgJill Kerrigan: Tenacious Survivor https://www.nawbo.org/resources/nawbo-one/2017/december/jill-kerrigan-tenacious-survivor
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<div class="field field-name-field-recurring-feature field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/recurring-feature/member-spotlight" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Member Spotlight</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p><img alt="Jill Kerrigan" class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__5899 img__view_mode__default attr__format__default attr__field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]__Jill Kerrigan attr__field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]__Jill" src="https://www.nawbo.org/sites/nawbo/files/Jill-Kerrigan.jpg" style="margin-left: 15px; margin-right: 0px; float: right;" title="Jill Kerrigan" typeof="foaf:Image" />There’s a special kind of tenacity that drives business owners. It’s the fuel that helps them keep going. No matter how hard they may fall, they always get back up and keep working toward their goals. That’s certainly true of Jill Kerrigan, who continues to prove over the course of her 20-plus-year career that she is one of the most tenacious business owners around.</p>
<p>Ask Jill, and she credits her innate drive to being the youngest of six kids. She grew up watching her single mother work three jobs to support her family, all while encouraging her kids to find their niche in life. After finding her niche in art, earning a degree in graphic design, and working as an art director for several years, Jill took the plunge in 1995—as she was raising her 2-year-old son—and started her own agency, JAK Creative Design, in the basement of her home. She welcomed two more children, both girls, in 1997 and 2006.</p>
<p>After putting her hard work and talent to the test, Jill’s business started to skyrocket. Today, she has 15 employees and works in a business space in the suburbs of Chicago that fosters JAK's culture of creativity. Her clients include high-profile organizations, like American Express, Exelon, ComEd, and Principal Financial Group. What’s more, Jill has never focused on marketing or advertising—nearly all of her clients have been referred via word-of-mouth.</p>
<p>After years of overcoming the challenges that come along with running a business, Jill was hit with one of the greatest challenges there is: in April 2017, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She quickly started getting treatment and even throughout rounds of unforgiving chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation, she has maintained her sense of humor and relied on her family, employees, and friends for lots of support. She also found support and motivation through her business and continued to go in at least once every day––even the day after her surgery, which she now admits might have been a good day to take off. “We are women warriors. That’s all we know. You get cancer, and you can either sit down and let it overwhelm you, or make it a more positive thing. It showed me to slow down and let others help me,” she says.</p>
<p>She also has found immense support in her sisters at NAWBO. In fact, shortly after starting her chemotherapy sessions, she was pleasantly surprised to receive a care package from fellow members filled with goodies, like a soft blanket, socks and an oatmeal bath treatment to help her through this time.</p>
<p>Filled with gratitude and love for her NAWBO sisters, Jill was bound and determined to attend this year’s National Women’s Business Conference. Although exhausted, she made the trip to Minneapolis and continued to wear her signature baseball cap with a Swarovski crystal pink breast cancer ribbon, to the events. “These ladies took me in. They walked with me as slow as I needed to go,” shares Jill. At the final event of the conference, she was in line with a group to take a photo, and she decided for the first time to take her hat off. "That was a big step for me, but these ladies empowered me to feel okay in the end. Because these ladies are so giving, I feel I can reach out to any one of them in a heartbeat,” she says.</p>
<p>As she continues to power through her radiation treatments, she hopes to finish treatment in mid-December and remains positive about what’s ahead. Her business also remains strong and she was recently the proud recipient of the 2017 Deborah M. Sawyer Rising Star Award from the Women’s Business Development Center of Chicago.</p>
<p>While difficult, this experience has been a lesson for Jill in the power of accepting help to heal and grow strong. Jill hopes that her story will inspire other women to do the same. “I hope it will encourage strong-headed entrepreneurs who don’t quit to feel that it’s okay to slow down and allow yourself to accept help,” she says.</p>
</div></div></div>Wed, 13 Dec 2017 20:46:47 +0000dizon7494186 at https://www.nawbo.orgHow Kristin Keen’s Rethreaded Is Changing Women’s Liveshttps://www.nawbo.org/resources/nawbo-one/2017/december/how-kristin-keen-s-rethreaded-changing-women-s-lives
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<p>After spending some time in Calcutta, India, listening to women’s experiences with sex trafficking, she was driven to do something to help them rise above such oppression. The solution: starting a business selling the women’s handmade blankets. “I was able to see the power of business in the lives of these women. Suddenly they had a community, people who cared about them, they regained their confidence and they had economic independence,” Kristin says.</p>
<p><img alt="" class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__6634 img__view_mode__default attr__format__default attr__field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]__ attr__field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]__" src="https://www.nawbo.org/sites/nawbo/files/rethreaded-colors_0.jpg" style="float: right; margin-left: 15px; margin-right: 0px;" typeof="foaf:Image" />After spending a few years launching that business, she came back to Jacksonville, Florida, and was surprised to encounter a community of women facing the exact same struggles with sex trafficking that she saw in India. “I started to know women here and felt we had to do something,” she explains. “The cycle is that a woman will end up in the (sex trafficking) industry, experience some severe complex trauma, and will sometimes come out of it with either a criminal background or no employment background. It’s setting women up to go back to where they started from.” Again, she turned to business and launched <a href="https://www.rethreaded.com/pages/gifts-of-hope">Rethreaded</a> in 2012, which sells up-cycled products made in their warehouse, as well as products made from women around the world, like scarves, jewelry, home goods and handbags. To best support women, she developed an unique non-profit business model that employs sex trafficking survivors in Florida, and partners with other businesses (like the one she started in Calcutta), to benefit as many survivors as possible.</p>
<h3>“It’s providing women a second chance.”</h3>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><img alt="" class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__6632 img__view_mode__default attr__format__default attr__field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]__ attr__field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]__" src="https://www.nawbo.org/sites/nawbo/files/rethreaded-sewing.jpg" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 15px; float: left;" typeof="foaf:Image" />Today, Rethreaded employs 15 women in Florida, and was responsible for 900 days of work for women in India, through their partnerships. Kristin explains that Rethreaded is a business, but also acts as a place to support women to develop their careers. “Usually, I’ll ask during the interview what they are good at, and many of them don’t know. So we try out different jobs to see what they’re good at,” she says. Women currently work in all aspects of the business, including production, inventory, sales, finance, administration and marketing. What’s more, an onsite mental health counselor works with employees to help them with self-care and access to resources. “We run our business principles based on trauma principles. We talk about choice, safety and trust,” Kristin says. “We feel we have a model that other businesses could run by.”</p>
<p>Recently introduced to NAWBO, Kristin was inspired by the powerful network of fellow women business owners and is in the process of becoming a first-time member. She was excited to attend this year’s National Women’s Business Conference in Minneapolis and provided lanyards to participants. “It was amazing,” she says. “We even got our first NAWBO order during the conference! Women will advocate for each other.”</p>
<blockquote>
<h4><strong>What is your #1 piece of advice for those who are not sure how to “do good” as a business owner? </strong></h4>
<p>“I really believe that business moves the world. Everyone on the planet needs to have a job and earn a living. Business is how we change the world, and how you choose to do business can&nbsp; change lives. Do your business well and the best you can. You can really impact people’s lives by how you treat them in your business.”</p>
</blockquote>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
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</div></div></div>Wed, 13 Dec 2017 20:45:00 +0000dizon7494184 at https://www.nawbo.orgHow Sharon Reynolds and DevMar Products Are Cleaning Up https://www.nawbo.org/resources/nawbo-one/2017/november/how-sharon-reynolds-and-devmar-products-are-cleaning
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<div class="field field-name-field-recurring-feature field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/recurring-feature/member-spotlight" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Member Spotlight</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p><img alt="" class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__6449 img__view_mode__default attr__format__default attr__field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]__ attr__field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]__" src="https://www.nawbo.org/sites/nawbo/files/Sharon-Reynolds.jpg" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 15px; float: left;" typeof="foaf:Image" />Growing a business can be a lot like walking from one stepping-stone to the next. In other words, one opportunity leads to another for those willing to continue to learn and grow. Sharon Reynolds is one such leader. As the owner of DevMar Products LLC in Nashville, Tennessee, she is quickly growing her brand as a leader in environmentally friendly cleaning and safety products.</p>
<p>As a self-proclaimed serial entrepreneur and a minority shareholder in a facilities management company, Sharon was inspired to fill a need for high-quality janitorial and sanitation products. She launched DevMar Products (named after her two sons, Devin and DeMarco) in 2007. But wanting the business to be different, she kept asking herself, “How can we improve sustainability efforts for companies? How do we preserve our planet, and how can each of us make a difference?”</p>
<p>While it was a tall order, she stuck to her commitments and developed cutting-edge products to address sanitation issues across all industries. In fact, DevMar Products became the prime contractor for the Nashville International Airport Authority and Sharon became the first woman to hold that position in the airport’s 75-year history.</p>
<p>Fast-forward to today, and DevMar’s products can be found in all 50 states. As a result of a recent partnership with EXIM Bank, the business has now expanded to global markets, including Mexico and Canada, and hopes to expand to China and the Philippines in the future. She has also developed a patent-pending product called Clean Up designed to sanitize and kill Norovirus within healthcare and restaurant environments. It is even hoped to be used on biohazard areas of cruise ships to mitigate virus outbreaks among staff and guests.</p>
<p>Throughout her 10 years with DevMar Products, Sharon notes that NAWBO has been a huge asset in helping break down barriers as a business owner. A member of NAWBO-Nashville, she has found the support and resources she’s needed to open doors and opportunities with the right partners. “The overall recognition that goes along with NAWBO and having that connection as a small business is incredible—they have a tremendous reputation and having that benefit to coincide with my company gives me instant credibility,” she says.</p>
<p>As her company continues to grow, Sharon is keenly focused on making products that make a positive impact. “That’s what I’m always thinking about: How can we make a positive impact in the lives of the people we serve? It’s not just running a business. How is it making a difference? I want to change the world. I want to be a change maker. What makes us so unique and different? Let corporations see who you are and say, ‘That’s someone I’d like to do business with,’” she says.</p>
<p>Find out more about DevMar Products at <a href="http://devmarproducts.com">devmarproducts.com</a>.</p>
<blockquote>
<h3><strong>Sharon Speaks “Government Contracting”</strong></h3>
<h5><strong>Q: In what ways have you ventured into the government contracting arena?</strong></h5>
<p>A: I am 49 percent owner of a SBA 8(a) Firm—a federal program that helps minority businesses get to the $100 million level.</p>
<p>DevMar is an ED Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) through the SBA program. The things we’re looking at right now in the federal world are opportunities in GSA schedules where federal entities can buy our products on a schedule, and set-aside contracts that will open more doors to business opportunities.</p>
<p>The Department of Defense (DoD) is also something that we’re deeply entrenched in. We work with the Procurement Technical Assistance Centers. It’s extremely valuable and important to participate in opportunities to be able to serve the federal government. It helps to diversify our business portfolio. We serve our customers in the DoD and have commercial, state/local and industrial contracts.</p>
<h5><strong>Q: What’s your #1 piece of advice for business owners seeking to break into the government contracting market?</strong></h5>
<p>A: All of that paperwork can be very arduous. Any business owner should consider contacting their Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) or SBA office. They are there to help you navigate the federal contracting opportunities. It’s a how-to guide to get you in touch with the opportunities with the federal government. We just so happen to be very fortunate. Our PTAC office has had some of the most helpful individuals. We don’t pay a dime because they are paid by the federal government. Matchmaker sessions and face-to-face meetings are constant. They’re funded by our taxpayer dollars so that’s a huge place to start.”</p>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<h5>Congrats to Sharon &amp; DevMar LLC for their recent 2017 Women’s Business Enterprise Council South Tier 1 Supplier of the Year award (a Regional Partner Organization of Women’s Business Enterprise National Council – WBENC)!&nbsp;</h5>
</blockquote>
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</div></div></div>Mon, 13 Nov 2017 20:58:56 +0000dizon7494024 at https://www.nawbo.orgMEET OUR WOMEN BUSINESS OWNER OF THE YEAR FINALISTS!https://www.nawbo.org/resources/nawbo-one/2017/september/meet-our-women-business-owner-year-finalists
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<div class="field-item even"><a href="/guest-author/nawbo-publications" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">NAWBO Publications</a></div>
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<div class="field field-name-field-recurring-feature field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/recurring-feature/member-spotlight" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Member Spotlight</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p><img alt="" class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__6010 img__view_mode__default attr__format__default attr__field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]__ attr__field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]__" src="https://www.nawbo.org/sites/nawbo/files/image003.jpg" style="margin-left: 15px; margin-right: 0px; float: right;" typeof="foaf:Image" /><strong>Kimberly Baeth, President, Golden Openings, Inc.<br />
NAWBO-Iowa</strong></p>
<p>There’s nothing quite like a grand opening event. Huge ribbons being cut with giant scissors to unveil a new building. A giant golden key to the city. A golden shovel to mark the official groundbreaking of a new business. But without one woman, we would not have any of those special tools. Kimberly Baeth is the brain behind the popular items that make grand openings and groundbreakings so special—from giant scissors to big bows to unique awards and keepsakes.</p>
<p>Her business, <a href="https://goldenopenings.com">Golden Openings, Inc</a>. was the first “Grand Opening Superstore” and now ships hundreds of packages daily all over the world. Her business also coordinates about five local events each week for high-profile companies like Facebook, Microsoft and Wells Fargo. Kimberly has also coordinated events for the White House, Oprah, Disney, Lady Gaga, Google, Apple, professional sports teams, movies and many universities. What’s more, she has set a world record for the longest ribbon cutting (4.5 miles).</p>
<p>As a member of NAWBO-Iowa, Kimberly has been a speaker at the Women Mean Business Summit and is committed to helping other women grow their businesses. “NAWBO has inspired me to drive innovation and growth in my own company in multiple ways. Not only did I gain confidence that I could build a great company, I learned how,” she explains. “By working with fellow NAWBO members, I learned how to establish a great team, make smart business investments, build my customer base and connect with other women business owners and the community.”&nbsp;</p>
<p>As one of this year’s WBO of the Year finalists, Kimberly is proud of her team’s accomplishments. “It is a very special honor to be recognized by NAWBO. There are thousands of exceptional women business leaders in this country, and to be recognized among them is very humbling,” she says. “I’m also thankful and happy for my team, as they deserve lots of the credit for Golden Opening’s success. They have all worked so hard over the past several years to deliver for our customers and grow our business. I am very blessed to lead such a fantastic dream team.”</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><img alt="" class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__6011 img__view_mode__default attr__format__default attr__field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]__ attr__field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]__" src="https://www.nawbo.org/sites/nawbo/files/image002_1.jpg" style="margin-left: 15px; margin-right: 0px; float: right;" typeof="foaf:Image" /><strong>Kim Heathcott, CEO &amp; Owner, Clarion Security<br />
NAWBO-Memphis</strong></p>
<p>What’s the trick to steadily growing a business in a competitive industry? You may want to ask Kim Heathcott, who began her business, <a href="http://www.clarionsecurity.com">Clarion Security</a>, in 2009 with no customers and only one employee. For the past three years, it’s been the largest woman-owned business in Memphis. Kim took her background in financial services with an emphasis on fraud auditing and control investigations to lead her business to achieve a projected $10 million in 2017 revenues.</p>
<p>When she’s not focusing on her business, Kim is actively involved in NAWBO and has served as Program Chair, Treasurer and President-Elect with the Memphis chapter. As Past President, Kim successfully launched the Memphis NAWBO Women’s Business Accelerator, which has graduated two cohorts of 20 women. What’s more, the program has nearly doubled the Memphis chapter’s membership. Kim has also served on the board of the Greater Memphis Chamber and currently serves on the Chamber Small Business Council board.</p>
<p>“In the seventh year after starting my business from the ground up, it is extremely gratifying to be recognized as a NAWBO finalist,” Kim says. “Businesses run by women bring a unique vision, approach and commitment that is being recognized and respected right now in our country. I am so appreciative of the honor bestowed on me by NAWBO. Early on in my business, I sought mentoring from other women business owners who were further ahead of me in their businesses and whom I could learn from and benchmark. I hope that my story encourages and supports other women-owned businesses to dig in and find their version of success.”</p>
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<p><img alt="" class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__6012 img__view_mode__default attr__format__default attr__field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]__ attr__field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]__" src="https://www.nawbo.org/sites/nawbo/files/Dr-Janis-Shinkawa-190x190.jpg" style="margin-left: 15px; margin-right: 0px; float: right;" typeof="foaf:Image" /><strong>Dr. Janis (aka “Dr. Jan”) Shinkawa, Medical Director &amp; Co-Founding Partner, Ohana Pet Hospital<br />
NAWBO-Ventura</strong></p>
<p>You could say that Janis is an expert in following her dreams. After starting her career as a successful Certified Public Accountant with Ernst &amp; Young, she decided to chase a childhood dream of becoming a veterinarian. She trained and worked as a general animal practitioner and then co-founded <a href="http://www.ohanapethospital.com/employees/dr-janis-shinkawa/">Ohana Pet Hospital</a> in Ventura County in 2012. She and her business partners are strong advocates for animals and aim to make Ventura County a 100 percent no-kill community.</p>
<p>Along with her dedication to animals, Janis is also dedicated to supporting women business owners through NAWBO. A member and former President of the NAWBO-Ventura chapter, she is passionate about her NAWBO community. “NAWBO has given me a sisterhood of business owners who support each other.&nbsp;Many have referred clients to us or have become clients of our hospital,” Janis says.&nbsp;“I have also hired NAWBO members to help us with our insurance, legal,&nbsp;marketing, special events and animal energy healing needs.&nbsp;They have helped us to perform these functions of the business so that we can concentrate on what we do best for the animals.”</p>
<p>That immense appreciation Janis has for her NAWBO sisters makes this year’s award nomination even more special. “I am honored and humbled to be a finalist for this award.&nbsp;I know that NAWBO members across the country are amazing, sharp and incredible business owners.&nbsp;To be named as a finalist leaves me speechless and very grateful,” she says.</p>
<p>Janis has also served as President of the Santa Barbara/Ventura Veterinary Medical Association and is a member of the Ventura Chamber of Commerce Green Task Force.&nbsp;</p>
</div></div></div>Wed, 13 Sep 2017 00:32:29 +0000dizon7493868 at https://www.nawbo.org